We’ve all experienced being consumed by something—whether it’s an obsession or an unavoidable situation. Consumed, directed by Mitchell Altieri, tackles this theme in a straightforward way.
The script, written by David Calbert, focuses on characters grappling with trauma and the difficulty of moving forward, all set against the backdrop of a monster movie in the woods. While the film has an interesting premise, it falls short of creating enough suspense or mystery to sustain its story.
What ‘Consumed’ Is About
Jay (Mark Famiglietti) and Beth (Courtney Halverson) are celebrating Beth’s first cancer-free year by revisiting their early memories of hiking and camping together. Beth, still weak from treatments, insists on continuing the trip, even though she’s not as strong as before.
The couple faces minor arguments, but Beth hides her fears behind a smile. However, at night, she has nightmares of claws tearing open her chest, where doctors once removed cancer.
The situation worsens when they find their tent destroyed and covered in a strange, slimy substance. In their attempt to flee, Jay steps into a bear trap, leading them to encounter Quinn (Devon Sawa), a reclusive hunter. Quinn is obsessed with finding and killing a creature that murdered his daughter.
Themes of Emotional Paralysis
The title Consumed reflects the emotional struggles of the characters. Beth is haunted by the fear of her cancer returning, while Jay wants to revive their relationship to its earlier days.
Quinn, on the other hand, is driven by a thirst for revenge against the creature that took his daughter’s life. This obsession consumes him and drives him into isolation, determined to destroy the monster.
Calbert’s writing is direct in expressing these emotional struggles. Quinn tells Beth that the creature targets those who are weak or close to death. While this straightforward approach to storytelling works, it also strips away some of the tension. The narrative feels too linear, and the creature’s eventual reveal—a Wendigo—is underwhelming.
Performances Help Ground the Film
Despite its shortcomings, Consumed is carried by solid performances. Famiglietti and Halverson do well in portraying a couple dealing with challenges. Jay tries to lift Beth’s spirits, but his efforts are met with frustration. The dynamic shifts when Quinn enters the story.
Sawa plays Quinn with a ruggedness that adds intrigue, making viewers question his motives. Quinn is more interested in helping Beth than addressing Jay’s injury, which raises suspicion.
The dialogue between the characters becomes more interesting once Quinn reveals more about the creature. These moments pull the audience back into the story, but the tension fades as soon as Quinn’s true intentions are revealed. The rest of the plot becomes predictable and follows a well-trodden path.
A Disappointing Wendigo Horror
The horror elements in Consumed are not as effective as they could be. Altieri’s take on Wendigo lore doesn’t come into play until the latter part of the movie, which reduces its impact. There are a few disturbing visuals, such as when Beth stumbles upon the Wendigo’s hideout and sees flesh masks hanging on rocks.
However, the Wendigo itself is mostly shown as a blurry, glowing storm cloud, which weakens its overall effect. There are practical effects used in the final showdown, but even those are hard to see clearly.
The film has moments of gruesome horror, such as when the Wendigo’s fingers dig into Beth’s surgery wound, but these scenes are few and far between. The film’s budgetary limitations are evident, and the creature design fails to leave a lasting impression.
Consumed tries to balance human drama with supernatural horror but never quite succeeds. The film touches on deeper themes, such as Beth’s fight for survival as a metaphor for her battle with cancer, but these ideas are never fully developed.
The weak special effects and predictable script ultimately hold the film back from reaching its potential. At just under 90 minutes, the movie feels too stretched, and it lacks the suspense needed to keep viewers on edge.
For those hoping for a memorable Wendigo story, Consumed falls short. The film is now available to stream on VOD in the U.S., but it may not leave a lasting impression on viewers.
